However, things have changed in the minds of some Americans. The Reason Rupe poll shows that a whopping 62 percent of Americans say an Ebola outbreak in a US city is likely, while 36 percent say an outbreak in the US is not likely.

Twenty-three percent of the public believes an Ebola outbreak in a US city is “very likely” and 39 percent say it is “somewhat likely.”

Concerning the ever controversial issue of mandatory childhood vaccination like measles and mumps, six out 10 Americans believe they should be mandatory for American children, according to the poll.

37 percent feel parents should be able to refuse vaccinations. Just over half, 52 percent, of Americans, say unvaccinated children should not be allowed to attend public schools, 44 percent think children who haven’t been vaccinated should be allowed in schools.

The Reason-Rupe poll interviewed 1,004 adults on mobile (503) and landline (501) phones from October 1-6, 2014. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points. Princeton Survey Research Associates International executed the nationwide survey.